Если я останусь

           "Sorry,kid,unlesswehaveanotherone,you’llalwaysbemybaby."

           "Anotherone?"Dadaskedwithmockalarm.

           "Relax.I’mkidding—forthemostpart,"Momsaid."Let’sseehowIfeelwhenMialeavesforcollege."

           "I’mgonnabeeightinDecember.ThenI’mamanandyou’llhavetocallme‘Ted,’"Teddyreported.

           "Isthatso?"Ilaughed,sprayingorangejuicethroughmynose.

           "That’swhatCaseyCarsontoldme,"Teddysaid,hismouthsetintoadeterminedline.

           MyparentsandIgroaned.CaseyCarsonwasTeddy’sbestfriend,andwealllikedhimalotandthoughthisparentsseemedlikesuchnicepeople,sowedidn’tgethowtheycouldgivetheirchildsucharidiculousname.

           "Well,ifCaseyCarsonsaysso,"Isaid,giggling,andsoonMomandDadwerelaughing,too.

           "What’ssofunny?"Teddydemanded.

           "Nothing,LittleMan,"Dadsaid."It’sjusttheheat."

           "Canwestilldosprinklerstoday?"Teddyasked.Dadhadpromisedhimhecouldrunthroughthesprinklersthatafternooneventhoughthegovernorhadaskedeveryoneinthestatetoconservewaterthissummer.ThatrequesthadpeevedDad,whoclaimedthatweOregonianssuffereightmonthsofrainayearandshouldbeexemptfromeverworryingaboutwaterconservation.

           "Damnstraightyoucan,"Dadsaid."Floodtheplaceifyouwant."

           Teddyseemedplacated."Ifthebabycanwalk,thenshecanwalkthroughthesprinklers.Canshecomeintothesprinklerswithme?"

           MomlookedatDad."That’snotabadidea,"shesaid.